Dusting and spraying apparatus.



F. J. DECKER. I DUSTING AND SPRAYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 'llAY29. I916- Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- F. J. DECKER. DUSTING AND SPRAYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29.19|6. 1,253,672.

Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. J. DECKER.

ousnwe AND SPRAYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. I916.

Patented J an. 15, 1918 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

- ATT'F UNITED STATES rA'r NT OFFICE.

;FBEDERICK J. DECKER,

DUSTING AND SPRAYING APP'AItATUS.

- To all whom it may concern.

Be it known'that I, FREDERICK J, DECKER, a. citizen ofthe United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Dusting or Spraying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for discharging-fine sulfur, or other insect or fungus preventing or destroying substance, upon trees, vines, plants, or other vegetable grmvths.

The invention has for its main object to assure a uniform and adequate dusting or spraying of said substance throughout the entire vegetable growth, whereby all its leaf and fruit surfaces will be amply covered'and thereby protected from the ravages of insects or fungi. I

A further object is to provide for autoniatic adjustment ofrthe discharge of sulfur sprayer.

or sprayed substance proportionately to its range'of trajectory from the more or less elevated discharge tube to parts of the trees or vines more or less distant fronrthe apparatus.

A final objectv is to provide a simple and eflicient duster or sprayer which nray havelarge capacity, and is not liable to choke or dog in use,and maybe operated by any ordinary farm or vineyard workman.

The invention will first be described andthen will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

' Reference is made to the accompanying drawlngs forming and 111 WhlCll f part'of this specification,

igure 1 is a View showing, to the right,

a side'elevation and, to the left, a vertical central section of the improved duster or drive for the perforated feeder. of the appaline3--3 iii-Fig. 41. Fig. 4 is a sectional-plan view takenalong-the line H infF-igfi.

' though-rhea;

Fig. 5-1s1a detail sectional plan taken along a a ap d t inl't eg to new of Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed May 29, 1916. Serial No. 100,569.

' St ance.

Fig. 2 is a partly broken out side view ofthe duster base, detailing the chain Figs.' 3 .a-nd4.- of the-dl awings near its jti l otio'n'withth e outsid Patented J an. 15, 1918.

. 10, or otherwise, to the lower end of the feeder 11, of the dusting or spraying sub- This feeder and the worm Wheel9, rest and rotate upon a metal washer 12, preferably overlying a fiber Washer 13,'both washers being placed around a hollow sleeve portion 14, of the base which projects upward within the feeder and providesa lower hearing'for the feeder and its driving worm. wheel 9,and also forins the air blast inletto the feeder, A. saucer-like portion 15', of the feeder has a pendent peripheral flange-1 6, which. overlaps an upwardly projecting ring flange 17, of the base 1, in which the driving \vornr'shaft 7, is journaled. The saucer15, the flanges 16, 17, and the top plate portion of the base 1, thus together form a protecting: guard for the feeder worm-drive'gearing, and the saucer 15,, also nlay'catch any sulfur or other spraying substance falling from the reservoir 18 at or through or with in the perforated feeder sidewall 19; This side wall is fastened preferablylby an' iek-jx ternal n'lQt'al ring 20, and bolts 21;, to a flange 22, rising from a lower anmllariperipheral feeder plate part- 23, which isfixed tothe lower parts of a series of preferably four vertically ranging rib ,orbr-acketfeeder portions 24;, the lower inner parts of x\- hich -are 9o quite I sin-all, vertical {3, fol-at formed through th nozzle 25", and; 1 col'mnu 'i inletlegs best shown-in ings. A portion of th er 1 was. at

Secondary nozzle 28,

ascending under influence of the upward air blast tln augh the saucer perforations 27, is carried directly into the upward atmospheric air current induced outside of the blast nozzle 25, and through the feeder openings 26, in direction of the arrow as, in Fig. 3, by the exhausting action of said primary nozzle 25, discharging into the superiiiiposed which discharges upward into a still larger upwardly tapering imperforate feeder portion 29, which is rigidly sustained by the upper ends of the feeder ribs 24, in position allowing the open end of the smaller blast nozzle 28, to project considerably and centrally within it. From said feeder wall portion 29, rises a,preferably rigid metal discharge tube section 30,

- tern al flange on the to the reservoir turning thereon 35' any rotated by the upper end of which rotates snugly Within a pendent collar or sleeve bearing portion 31, of the main vfixed top wall 32, of the sulfur reservoir 18. This top 32, has a hinged lid part 33, fitted with a locking device 3 1, and may be opened to allow filling or charging of the reservoir with the sulfur or other substance to be dusted or sprayed. \Vithin the top sleeve 31, also is loosely fitted the lower end bearing part 35, of a metal collar 36, forming part of the sulfur discharge tube and communicating at its lower end with the tube portion 30, of the feeder 11. One or more clips 37, overlying an excollar 36, hold it down top 32, and allow its manual in a horizontal plane. To the outer end of this collar 36, is suitably clamped the lower rear end of a flexible dis- 1 charge tube section 38, the forward end of which is clamped to the rear end of a preferably rigid final discharge tube section 39, which may have any desired length and also may have a hand manipulating pole 40,

shown flexibly coupled to the flaring tube nozile e1. To this nozzle 41, is fixed a rod .42, pro ecting in the nozzle axis and fitted with a'fan or other device 43, which is rapof the escaping nnpingen'ient sulfur or sprayed substance which thus is the fan while forcibly scattered laterally by being rapidly carried forward by the air last or projecting means to the desired placeof discharge.

An imperforate tubular or sleeve valve 44, 1s fitted closely but movably around the perforated3feeder wall portion 19, and is' shown coupled by two rods 45, with opposite ends of. a thin cross- 'ead 46,- which passes freely through narrow vertical slots 47, in the' feederdischarge tube 30. These slots permil: sufficient-vertical movement of the crossllefld 4.6,- for lifting the lower edge of the sleevevalve. 44, nearly to the upper horizontalrange of preferably diagonal slots or perforations in the feeder side wall 19, to thus'allow. maximum lateralinward passage ojthe sulfuror substance'from the reservoir 18, through the wall perforations into the interior chamber of the feeder ll whence the sulfur is forcibly carried upward under influence of the air blast and of the u wardly induced air current through the feedizr openings 26, to and through the nozzle :28, through the collar 36, the .iexible tube section 38, and the final discharge tube section 39; the parts 36, 38. 3!), being manually movable horizontally upon the fixed reservoi-r top 3'2, to assure etl'c 'ive final lodgment of the dusted or sprayed v ulfur or substance at any desired place of discharge. The slots 17, are quite narrow. hence such parts of them as may be covercd by the original sulfur charge in the reservoir do not permit objectionable passage of the sulfur into the interior of the feeder 11, above. the blast nozzle 28. The lower ends of the slots 47, and also the opposing parts of the cross-head 16, have knife edge formation at 48, preventing lodgment of sulfur at the base of the slots, thereby allowing the sleeve valve 44, to always descend fully upon the feeder side wall retaining ring 20, to fully prevent passage of sulfur from the reservoir 18, to the inside of the feeder 11, when theapparatus is not in use. Fig. 3 of the drawings more clearly shows that the periphery of the feeder plate 23, has outside of the perforated feeder wall 19, an upturned flange which rotates quite closely to and within an annular groove 15), in the reservoir frame. Any suitable packing, not shown, may be placed in this groove to prevent or minimize escape thereat of fine sulfur from the reservoir 18. An annular plate 50, fixed to the reservoir frame below the feeder ring plate portion 2-3, assists in directing the upwardly induced atmospheric air-currents through the feeder openings 26.

Any suitable means may be used to raise the imperforate sleeve valve. 41, more or less for permitting regulated sulfur passage through those perforations of the feeder side wall 19, then exposed to the sulfur in the reservoir 18, below the raised lower edge of this valve: One object of this invention isto operation of the valve 44; lowering of the final discharge tube section 39, whereby as this tube part is raised to assure farther, away lodginent of the sulfur or other sprayed substance upon the more provide for by the raising or .distant parts of trees, vines or plants. the

above named important between which the rod haste bearing in or on @the cross head 46, which thus 15 free to turn withgthe feeder 11, and .the rods 15,

carrying the. valve 44, while the rod 51,*does hotrot'ate, but when raised or lowered said rod 51, will correspondingly. raise or lower the rotating valve 4:4, on the rotating feeder 11. As shown, the upper end of the rod 51, is coupled to the inner end of a lever 54, which is fulcrurned at 55, to a lateral extension of the collar 36, and near'its outer end, which carries a weight 56, the lever hasa suitable split or other clampingdevice 57, including a thumb-screw adapted to tighten the clamp upon a flexible ca JlG or cord 58, er end of which is coupled to an arm. .59. is arm is bolted at 60,10 one side arm of a stirru or forked member 61, which is fixedly c amped at its collar 62, to

the rigid discharge tube section of), a little forward of its point of connection with the flexible tube section 38. The rear ends of the stirrup 61, are fulciumed at .63, to opposite vertical arms (34, fixed to the revoluhle collar 36, and crmsctpn-ntly when the discharge nozzle of the tube 39, raised the outer end' of the arm 59, is lmvered thereb allowing the weight 56, to raise the inner end of the lever 54, and the coupled rod.

51, and correspondingly raise the erossehcad 4-6, and the coi'inected sleeve valve 4 4, to

assure commensurate increased .rate of air blast feed of sulfur from the reservoir 18,

through the feeder 11, to the discharge tube or spout. 'Ilhe lever clamp 57, may be connected at different polnt's alongjlhe cable 58,

for more or less accurately timing the adjustment of the sleeve valve 44, relatively 'to vertical adj u'stments of the discharge tube nozzle 41. It is obvious that as the nozzle- 41, is raisedthe valve l4, .will be raised and farther open.ed,- and as this nozzle is lowered the valve will be lowered and more nearly closed; and these' valvc adjustments are entirely automatic and reliable. The lever '54, may be coupled in any desired. mannor to the stirrup arm 59. The blower 3, is operated by a belt 65, running-from the blower pulley. (so, toany suitable gasolene or otherniotor mounted upon the vehicle bed, or floor 2', which supports the dl'lsting or spraying apparatus.

To more fully assure .uniform air blast feed of thosul'fufl from the reservoir 18, to the dischargetubc, one-or. more. brushes 67 are fitted in the lower part of the reservoir or action upon any portion of the |t-rfo gated feeder-side wallihwhich may be exposed to the sulfur,chargebelow the more tilless raised lower of the imperforate itleeve valve 44. It is now preferred to use 1 our brushes 67, equally spaced apart and as more clearly. shown in Fi s. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Eachbrush is adjust-ably held by fastenings which also provide a .paratus of. this general character.

means for securing the reservoir and its overhanging discharge, spout firmly to tho duster orfsprayer base 1. These fastenmgs preferably comprise a headplate 68, from which rise two spaced cheelvplatesfil), found between which the wood brush block 70'is' fastened 'by bolts 71. A vertical spindle 72, fixed to the head plate '68, passes down through holes in the heads 73, of the tubular legs 74, and also through holes in the base 1, and below the base the spindle 72, has a nut 75, which when tightened securely fastens the brush in the proper working positionrelatirely to the perforated feeder wall 19, and also secures the entire sulfur reservoir and its discharge tube to the fixed base 1, and

' without permitting leaka eofsulfur from the reserroi'rat the brush astenings. Strong brackets 76, connect thelowcr cast metal taval ve, l4.-

Agi-taiors of any form may be provided in the resorvoil- 18, to assist downflow of the fine sulfur to and through the perforated feeder wall '19. His preferred" to provide a special flexible drag agitator such as a chain 77, hung from the outer end of an arm 78,

projecting radially from a bearing .01 support. on and near the upper end of the feeder outlet tube-3t). This chain. agitator- 77, turns with the feeder 11. and drags through and over the gradually decreasing sulfur charge in the reservoir 18. thereby facilitatin feed of tl'iefine sulfur unii'ormly around eair blast nozzles 25. 28, which carry it through the discharge tube. One or more of these flexible agitators 77, may be used, two being shown in Fig. 3 of the'drawings.

While this invention is herein more par- 1 ticlularly, described relatively to the discharge of-line sulfur or other powderedsubstance, certain features ofthe'i nvention specilied in the appendedclaims may be used in apparatus of other form or arrangement and more especially adapted for spraying a liquid ,or'-.| liquid compound, as will readily .befundcrstood by those familiar'with ap- WVhat Ijclaim is: p

A duster orjsprayer comprisi'n a reservoir for the substance to be spraye adis-v charge tubelcommunicating withthe reserf voir, blastilnducing vdevicesdrawing said and ejecting it substance from the reservoir from the d schargeltuhe, n eatns controlling 2. A duster or sprayer comprising a rescrvoir for theivubstance to be spraye a discharge tube cinnmunicating with the reservoir. blast inducing devices dr iwing said v ubstance from the reservoir and ejecting it from the discharge tube, a valve controlling feed of the substance from the reservoir to the discharge tube. and connections between the tube and the valve automatically actuating the valve and thereby regulating the rate offecd of said substance proportionately to the range of movement of the discharge ,tube nozzle.

:1. A duster or sprayer comprising a fixed base, a reservoir on the base for the substance t?) be sprayed. a feeder revoluble in the reservoir and having a perforated wall portion. a discharge tube held to the reservoir and coinnninicating with the feeder outlet, blast devices dischargil-ig into the tube and drawing said substance from the reservoir into the feeder through its wall perforations and then ejecting the substance from the discharge tube. and adjustably supported ln-ushing means in the reservoir acting upon the perforated portion of the feeder wall to prevent clogging of it.

i. A duster or sprayer comprising a fixed base, a reservoir on the base for the substance to be sprayed, a feeder revolublc in the reservoir and having a perforated wall portion. a discharge tube held to the reservoir and communicating with the feeder outlet; blast devices discharging into the tube and drawing said substance from the reservoir into the feeder through its wall pert'oratio'us andthen e ecting tht substance from' the discharge tube, and brushing means in the reservoir acting upon the perforated portion of the feeder wall to prevent logging of it; said brushing means having fastenings including parts adjustably holding the brush within the reservoir in proper relation to the perforated feeder wall and also securing the reservoir and its connected discharge tube to the duster base.

5. A duster or sprayer comprising a fixed base, a reservoir on the base for the subreservoir and revolubly supported on the base, such feeder having a perforated cylindrical wall portion, a discharge tube communicating with the feeder outlet, blast devices discharging into the tube and drawing said substance from the reservoir into the feeder through its wall perforations and then ejecting the substance from the discharge tube, and a valve adjustably fitted over the per Iorated feeder wall and controlling the rate stance to be sprayed, a feeder located in the -of spraying substance feed therethrough under the influence of the blast.

6. A duster or sprayer comprising a fixed base, a reservoir on the base for the substance to be sprayed. a feeder located in the reservoir and revolubly supported on the base, such feeder having a )erforated cylindrical wall portion, a disc arge tube communicating with the feeder outlet, blast devices discharging into the tube and drawing said substance from the reservoir into tbe feeder through its Wall perforations and ejecting thg substance from the discharge tube, a valve adjustably fitted over the perforated feeder wall and controlling the rate of spraying substance feed therethrough under the influence of the blast. and brush ing means in the reservoir acting upon the outer surface of the perforated wall not covered by the valve.

T. A duster or sprayer comprising a res crvoir for the substance to be sprayed, a feeder revolublc in the reservoir andhaving a perforated wall portion. a discharge tube communicating with the feeder outlet, blast devices discharging into the tube and drawing said substance from the reservoir into the feeder through its wall perforations and then ejecting the sub- 1 l a stance from the discharge tube. a valve adjustably fitted at the perforated feeder wall and controlling the rate of spraying substance feed theretln'ough under the influence of the blast, and connections between said valve and said discharge tube automatically actuating the valve and thereby regulating the spraying substance feed from the reservoir proportionately to. the range of movement of the discharge tube nozzle.

8. A duster or sprayer comprising a reservoir for the substance to be sprayed. a feeder revolublc in the reservoir and having a perforated wall portion, blast devices discharging into the feeder, a valve adjustably titted at the perforated feeder wall and controlling the rate of spraying substance feed iherethrough under the influence of the blast. a discharge tube having an inner collar section manually revoluble on the reservoir top and communicating with the feeder outlet, a flexible intermediate section coupled to said inner collar section. and an outer section coupled to the forward end of said flexible section. a stirrup or part rigidly held to said outer tube section. and connections from said stirrup to the feeder valve where? by the valve is automatically actuated to regulate the feed of spraying substance from the reservoir proportionatelyto the range of movement of the nozzle of theouter, discharge tube section.

9. duster or sprayer com-prising a reservoir for the substance to be sprayed, a feeder revoluble. in the reservoir and having a perforated wall portion, blast devices diseharg- 13b ling at the" perforated feeder wall, and controlthe rate a of spra' ing substance v j, feed therethrough under in uence of the blast, a discharge tube having an inner collar section manually revoluble on the reservoir top and; communicating with the feeder outlet,

a flexible intermediate;'section coupled to sa'ir nner collar section, and an outer secoupled tothe forward end of saidflexible section, a stirrup orpazt rigidly held to said outer tube section and fulcrumed at its rear end to the inner collar tube section, a cross-head movable in bearings at the diecharge portion of the feeder, connections from said cross-head to the feeder valve a rod having a loose but endWise immovable v bearjin in said cross head, a lever ful- H as to said outer tubeseetion and fulcrumed at,

cruniec to the inner collar section of the discharge tube and coupled at its inner end to said. rod, and connections from the outer end of the-lever to the stirrup fixed to the outer discl'large tube section.

10. A duster or sprayer comprising a reservoirfor the substance to be sprayed, a feeder revoluble in the reservoir and having a perforatedwall portion, blast-devices dis-- trolling the rate of spraying substance feed therethrough under influence of the blast, a discharge tube havin an inner collar sectionmanually revolube on the reservoir top and communicatin with the" feeder outlet,-

a flexible intermediate section coupled to said inner collar section,.and an outer section coupled to the forward end of said flexible section, a stirrup or part rigidly held its rear end-to the inner collar tube section,

a. cross-head movable in bearings at the discharge portion of the feeder, connections from said cross-head to the feeder valve, a rod having a loose but .endWise immovable bearing in said cross-head, a weighted level"- fulcrulned to the inner collar sectioniof the discharge tube and coupled at its inner end to said rod, an arm' fixed to the stirrup of theouter dischar e tube section, and a fiexiblecable coupler to said arm and to the outer end of theweighted lever.

11. In a dusting or spraying apparatus, 'thecombination witha discharge tube, of a .revoluble fan propeller at the tube nozzle laterally spreading a spraying substance,

forwardly ejected from the tube.

12. A duster -0r sprayer comprising a reservoirfor the substance to be sprayed, a v

revoluble feeder opening to the reservoir, a

discharge tube communicating with the feeder outlet, blast devicesdischarging into the feeder v and tube and draiyingsaid substance from the reservoir and e ecting it from the tube, and flexibleagltator devices rcvoluble by the feeder andacting upon and the reservoir.

13. A duster or sprayer-comprising a) reservoir for the sulfur or substance to be sprayed, a discharge tube communicating with the reservoir, blast inducingdevices, a feeder revoluble in the'reservoir and including two coacting spaced blastdirecting nozz'les opening toward the feeder outlet, and skeleton ribs operatively sustaining the nozzles relatively to each other and to the feeder sulfur-inlet and outlet, said r'ibsproviding between them openings for free passage of atmospheric air around the outside j p of one nozzle and Within the other nozzle, whereby the sulfur-or substance is drawn from the reservoir, into the feederand thence ejected through thedischarge tube under influenceof the blast through both. nozzles aided by induced and commingling 35 air currents. I '14; A; duster-or sprayer comprising a reservoir'fcr the sulfur. or substance to be sprayed, a discharge tube communicating with thereservoir, blast inducing devices, a feeder revoluble in the reservoir and inc'luding two coacting spaced blast directing nozzles opening toward the feeder outlet, and

blast inlet, whereby sulfur falling from the feederiinto or toward said receptacle will be carried by the 'blast passing through said.

perforations into the atmospheric air currents induced by the blast nozzles and will be thusautomatieally returned to the feeder. 1 5. A. dusting or spraying apparatus com 1 prising a reservoir for the substance tobe sprayed, arevo l uble feeder opening to the I reservoir, a discharge tube communicating with the feeder outlet, blast dcvicesjdiS- charging into the feeder and tube, and a base susaining the reservoir and'having t\vo upwardlyprmectlng flanges, the inner tubular flange formingthe' blast inlet to the feeder and discharge tube and providing a lower bearing for the feeder and its main driving wheel, and the outer flange providing bearings for other arts of the feeder driving mechanism; sai feederhaving an annular plate portion'whichcoacts with theouter base flangeto cover and guard, the main feeder driving wheel pinion or Worm. I a

16. In a dusting or spraying apparatus,

a the combination with a sulfur reservoir and its disehar e tube, of a revoluble feeder hay ing a sul ur inlet from the reservoir and 13 and its engaged 12bcomprising supporting ribs providing atmospheric air inlet openings between them, upper and lower spaced blast nozzles sustained by said ribs, the lower nozzle receiving the blast and directing it through the upper nozzle, and an iinperforate upper portion into which the said nozzles discharge the forced blast and the commingled atmospheric air currents on their Way to the discharge tube.

17. In a dustin or the combination with it its discharge tube,

Lasagna side thevsaid lower nozzle and communicating with the forced blast inlet.

18. In a dusting or spraying apparatus,

the combination with a sulfur reservoir and its discharge tube, of a revoluble feeder having a sulfur inlet from the reservoir and comprising supporting ribs providing atmospheric air inlet openings between them, upper-and lower spaced blast nozzles sustained by said ribs, the lower nozzle receivng the blast and directing it through the upper nozzle, an imperforate upper portion into which the said nozzles discharge the forced blast and the commingled atmospheric air currents on their way to the discharge tube, and a. lower receptacle provided with perforations outside of the said lower nozzle and communicating with the forced blast inlet; the said reservoir carryin duied atmospheric air currents toward the openings between said supporting ribs,'substantially as described.

FREDERICK J. DECKER.

a fixed annular plate directing the in-' 

